Visakhapatnam DIG orders stronger action against cannabis smuggling

Visakhapatnam Range DIG Gopinath Jatti on Friday told police in Alluri Seetharamaraju, Anakapalle, Vizianagaram, Parvathipuram Manyam and Srikakulam districts to step up action against cannabis smuggling. He also asked them to tighten law and order. He wanted investigations into serious crimes to move faster.

At a review meeting with the Superintendents of Police, Mr. Jatti praised the seizure of assets worth Rs 10.04 crore from 14 people involved in cannabis trade. Police have opened records on 1,119 criminals. Proposals were sent to book 51 under the Preventive Detention Act and 80 under the PIT NDPS Act.

Officials said 368 repeat cannabis smugglers and 370 others linked to different crimes have been identified. Police took legal action. They also said 341 people were arrested and sent to court on non-bailable warrants.

This year, 33 people were convicted in 20 cases. Of them, 24 received prison terms of 10 to 20 years.

The DIG praised the use of apps such as Stay Safe, Nidan, Koz and NATGRID (National Intelligence Grid) to trace absconding criminals. He asked police to study smuggling routes and make plans to stop cannabis transport.

He told officers to speed up investigations of sexual crimes against women and children, cases of missing women and girls, and cases under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. He said these cases must be finished on time to deliver justice.

The meeting also looked at other law-and-order issues across the range. Police prepared an action plan for the coming months.

The meeting was attended by Alluri Seetharamaraju SP Amit Burger, Anakapalle SP Tuhin Sinha, Vizianagaram SP Vakul Jindal, Parvathipuram Manyam SP Madhav Reddy and Srikakulam SP Maheshwar Reddy.